This is a good start, but it may not be sufficient. Using the new cameras, the CHP needs to find and track down and impound cars that have no plates, fake plates and stolen plates. As well as stolen cars. These are being used to commit many of the crimes in the area. This is also a way of finding the people who are committing the crimes. The problem goes well beyond stopping cars that are driving recklessly. We also need to change the rules of engagement to allow pursuit of criminals from scenes of crimes. A very few people can commit a large number of crimes, and do a great deal of damage to the fabric of society. They need to be caught and stopped. Everything else we hope to achieve in this city depends on getting crime under control and restoring a sense of relative public safety. And, of course, we need to dramatically improve response times when crimes are reported to 911 as being in progress.
I oppose passing the process by not going to the Public Safety Committee first. It includes a request to fund a lateral police academy which was not supported in the budget conversations. It includes recruitment and retention of 911 dispatchers but does not mention training around dispensing MACRO teams which has been a consistent request of the community. There is a separate piece of the item which requests a report to analyze the number of calls going to MACRO and how to improve that, so that is something. This report also includes an analysis of increasing foot patrol beat officers. This item calls for the City Administrator to make a recommendation about how to fund all of the requested changes but doesn't specify whether that will result in additional GPF money being shifted from other things and going to the police. There is also no provision as to an opportunity for community to provide input and feedback on this report
This is a good start, but it may not be sufficient. Using the new cameras, the CHP needs to find and track down and impound cars that have no plates, fake plates and stolen plates. As well as stolen cars. These are being used to commit many of the crimes in the area. This is also a way of finding the people who are committing the crimes. The problem goes well beyond stopping cars that are driving recklessly. We also need to change the rules of engagement to allow pursuit of criminals from scenes of crimes. A very few people can commit a large number of crimes, and do a great deal of damage to the fabric of society. They need to be caught and stopped. Everything else we hope to achieve in this city depends on getting crime under control and restoring a sense of relative public safety. And, of course, we need to dramatically improve response times when crimes are reported to 911 as being in progress.
I oppose passing the process by not going to the Public Safety Committee first. It includes a request to fund a lateral police academy which was not supported in the budget conversations. It includes recruitment and retention of 911 dispatchers but does not mention training around dispensing MACRO teams which has been a consistent request of the community. There is a separate piece of the item which requests a report to analyze the number of calls going to MACRO and how to improve that, so that is something. This report also includes an analysis of increasing foot patrol beat officers. This item calls for the City Administrator to make a recommendation about how to fund all of the requested changes but doesn't specify whether that will result in additional GPF money being shifted from other things and going to the police. There is also no provision as to an opportunity for community to provide input and feedback on this report